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Abstract:

A gas-containing unit and a water vehicle including the same are
disclosed. The gas-containing unit includes a pair of reinforcement
boards that are positioned in line with each other, a tube member that is
positioned between the reinforcement boards and is capable of gas
injection, and a support frame that is furnished along the outer
circumference of the pair of reinforcement boards to connect the pair of
reinforcement boards to each other. It is possible to prevent damage such
as scratching and tearing of a soft tube material due to external shock,
and to improve overall structural strength.

Claims:

1. A gas-containing unit comprising: a pair of reinforcement boards,
wherein the reinforcement boards are disposed parallel to each other; a
tube member disposed between the reinforcement boards, wherein the tube
member is configured such that gas is injected thereinto; and a support
frame provided along an outer circumference of a pair of the
reinforcement boards to connect the reinforcement boards to each other.

2. The gas-containing unit according to claim 1, wherein a pair of the
reinforcement boards has a plank-like shape when gas is not injected into
the tube member, and is inflated along with the tube member when gas is
injected into the tube member, thereby being transformed into a shape
that bulges outwards.

3. The gas-containing unit according to claim 1, further comprising
fastening members, which fasten the reinforcement boards to the support
frame.

4. The gas-containing unit according to claim 1, wherein a pair of the
reinforcement boards is coupled to the support frame using thermal
fusion.

5. The gas-containing unit according to claim 1, wherein the
reinforcement boards are made of engineering plastic.

6. The gas-containing unit according to claim 1, wherein the
reinforcement boards have a streamlined structure, with a width thereof
decreasing from a central portion to both ends.

7. The gas-containing unit according to claim 1, wherein the support
frame is configured to be substantially identical with an outline of the
reinforcement boards.

8. The gas-containing unit according to claim 1, wherein the support
frame includes at least one pipe having a circular cross section.

9. The gas-containing unit according to claim 8, wherein the pipe is made
of engineering plastic.

10. The gas-containing unit according to claim 8, wherein the pipe
includes a buoyant member, which fills an inside thereof, wherein the
buoyant member comprises Styrofoam.

11. The gas-containing unit according to claim 8, wherein the at least
one pipe comprises a plurality of pipes, which are coupled to each other.

12. The gas-containing unit according to claim 11, wherein a plurality of
the pipes includes: a first pipe; and a second pipe detachably coupled to
the first pipe, wherein the second pipe has a length that is shorter than
that of the first pipe.

13. The gas-containing unit according to claim 12, wherein the first and
second pipes have a streamlined overall structure.

14. The gas-containing unit according to claim 12, wherein the support
frame further includes a coupling pipe, which is fitted into the second
pipe, wherein both ends of the coupling pipe protrude from both ends of
the second pipe, and are fitted into both ends of the first pipe, thereby
coupling the first pipe to the second pipe.

15. The gas-containing unit according to claim 1, wherein a pair of the
reinforcement boards is configured such that it bulges outwards when gas
is not injected into the tube member.

16. The gas-containing unit according to claim 1, wherein the boards are
made of metal.

17. A water vehicle comprising the gas-containing unit described in claim
1.

Description:

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a gas-containing unit and a water
vehicle including the same, and more particularly, to a structure of a
gas-containing unit that is designed to withstand external impact and
exhibit improved overall structural strength.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In general, a tube has a volume that is variably set depending on
whether or not gas is injected, and is used to float an object in the
water due to its low specific gravity. Such a tube is used as a buoyant
body in a water vehicle, such as a small boat, since it is relatively
light and easy to carry.

[0003] The tube is generally made of a soft material, such as Polyvinyl
Chloride (PVC), polyurethane, or the like. Thus, the tube, which is used
as a buoyant body of a water vehicle such as a boat, is vulnerable to
damage, such as scratching or tearing, when the water vehicle collides
against a sharp object, such as a rock or a coral reef, thereby
endangering people in the water vehicle.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

[0004] An object of the invention is to provide a gas-containing unit that
can prevent a tube member, which is made of a soft material, from being
scratched or torn by external impact and exhibit improved overall
structural strength, and a water vehicle including the same.

Advantageous Effects

[0005] According to embodiments of the invention, a structure in which a
pair of reinforcement boards protects a tube member, which is disposed
between the reinforcement boards, is provided. This structure can prevent
the tube member, which is made of a soft material, from being damaged,
for example, being scratched or torn by external impact, as well as
exhibit improved overall structural strength.

[0006] In addition, a pair of the reinforcement boards can be uniformly
inflated without being partially crushed, since a support frame stably
supports the outer circumference of a pair of the reinforcement boards
while a pair of the reinforcement boards are is inflated along with the
tube member as gas is being injected into the tube member.

[0007] Furthermore, since the reinforcement boards are in the form of a
flat plank when gas is not injected into the tube member, it is possible
to improve the ease with which the gas-containing unit can be carried and
maintained.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gas-containing unit according to
an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the gas-containing unit taken
along line II-II in FIG. 1;

[0010]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the support frame of the
gas-containing unit shown in FIG. 1;

[0011] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the support frame taken along
line IV-IV in FIG. 3;

[0012]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the gas-containing unit shown in
FIG. 1, in which gas is injected into the tube member;

[0013]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the gas-containing unit taken
along line VI-VI in FIG. 5; and

[0014] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a boat that serves as a
water vehicle, which incorporates a gas-containing unit according to an
exemplary embodiment of the invention.

BEST MODE

[0015] According to the invention for realizing the foregoing object, the
gas-containing unit includes a pair of reinforcement boards, which are
disposed parallel to each other; a tube member disposed between the
reinforcement boards, the tube member is shaped such that gas can be
injected thereinto; and a support frame provided along the outer
circumference of a pair of the reinforcement boards to connect the
reinforcement boards to each other.

[0016] In the gas-containing unit, a pair of the reinforcement boards may
have a plank-like shape when gas is not injected into the tube member,
and be inflated along with the tube member when gas is injected into the
tube member, thereby being transformed into a shape that bulges outwards.

[0017] The gas-containing unit may further include fastening members,
which fasten the reinforcement boards to the support frame.

[0018] A pair of the reinforcement boards may be coupled to the support
frame using thermal fusion. The reinforcement boards may be made of
engineering plastic. The reinforcement boards may have a streamlined
structure, with a width thereof decreasing from the central portion to
both ends.

[0019] The support frame may be configured to be substantially identical
with the outline of the reinforcement boards. The support frame may
include at least one pipe having a circular cross section.

[0020] The pipe may be made of engineering plastic. The pipe may include a
buoyant member, which fills the inside thereof. The buoyant member may be
made of Styrofoam. The at least one pipe may include a plurality of
pipes, which are coupled to each other.

[0021] A plurality of the pipes may include a first pipe and a second pipe
detachably coupled to the first pipe. The second pipe has a length that
is shorter than that of the first pipe. The first and second pipes may
have a streamlined overall structure.

[0022] The support frame may further include a coupling pipe, which is
fitted into the second pipe. Both ends of the coupling pipe protrude from
both ends of the second pipe, and are fitted into both ends of the first
pipe, thereby coupling the first pipe to the second pipe.

[0023] A pair of the reinforcement boards may be configured such that that
it bulges outwards when gas is not injected into the tube member. The
boards may be made of metal.

[0024] According to the invention for realizing the foregoing object, the
water vehicle includes the gas-containing unit having the above-described
configuration.

MODE FOR INVENTION

[0025] The above and other advantages of the invention and of the
operation of the invention and the above and other objects, which are
realized by embodying the invention, will be more apparent from the
following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, which show exemplary embodiments of the invention.

[0026] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary
embodiments thereof are shown. In the following description of the
present invention, however, detailed descriptions of known functions and
components incorporated herein will be omitted when they may make the
subject matter of the present invention unclear.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gas-containing unit according to
an exemplary embodiment of the invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional
view of the gas-containing unit taken along line II-II in FIG. 1, FIG. 3
is a perspective view of the support frame of the gas-containing unit
shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the support
frame taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the gas-containing unit 100 of this
embodiment is a buoyant body that is used to float a water vehicle, such
as a boat, in the water. The gas-containing unit 100 includes a pair of
reinforcement boards 110 and 120, the reinforcement boards 110 and 120
disposed parallel to each other; a tube member 130, which is disposed
between the reinforcement boards 110 and 120 and is configured such that
gas can be injected thereinto; and a support frame 140, which is provided
along the outer circumference of the reinforcement board 110 and 120 in
order to connect the reinforcement boards 110 and 120 to each other.

[0029] The reinforcement boards 110 and 120 are in the form of a flat
plank, which has a streamlined structure in which the width decreases
from the center to both ends thereof. In addition, the reinforcement
boards 110 and 120 are configured such that the front end is more sharply
pointed than the rear end, since the curvature of the front end is
smaller than that of the rear end. However, the structure of the
reinforcement boards 110 and 120 are not limited to this streamlined
structure, but can suitably vary according to the aspect in which the
gas-containing unit 100 is applied. For example, the reinforcement boards
110 and 120 can be in the form of a rectangular plank.

[0030] The reinforcement boards 110 and 120 are means for protecting the
tube member 130, which is disposed between thereof, while reinforcing the
overall structural strength of the gas-containing unit 100. The
reinforcement boards 110 and 120 are made of engineering plastic, which
has excellent mechanical strength, abrasion resistance, thermal
resistance, and the like. The engineering plastic is a type of
high-strength plastic used as an industrial or structural material, and
refers to high-performance resin having a high molecular structure, which
is stronger than steel, more ductile than aluminum, and more chemically
resistant than gold and silver. Alternatively, the reinforcement boards
110 and 120 can be made of general plastic or metal, such as stainless
steel (SUS). However, the reinforcement boards 110 and 120 are required
to be inflated along with the tube member 130 when gas is injected into
the tube member 130 so that it is transformed into a shape that bulges
outwards (see FIGS. 5 and 6), and this fact should be considered when
determining the material and the thickness of the reinforcement boards
110 and 120.

[0031] The tube member 130 is contained in the inner space, which is
defined by the reinforcement boards 110 and 120 and the support frame
140. The tube member 130 can be made of a variety of soft materials, such
as Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), urethane vinyl, synthetic resin, and the
like. The tube member 130 can be provided in a single ply or a plurality
of plies. The tube member 130 is provided with a gas inlet, through which
gas can be injected into the tube member 130. The tube member 130 is
configured such that it is inflated to maintain a predetermined inner
volume when gas is injected into the tube member 130 through the gas
inlet. The tube member 130 can be selected from well-known tubes having a
variety of structures. An inlet opening, which exposes the gas inlet of
the tube member 130 to the outside, is formed in the portion of the
reinforcement boards 110 and 120 that is adjacent to the gas inlet of the
tube member 130. Although not shown in the figures, a stopper or a cover,
which opens and closes the inlet opening, can be provided to the portion
of the reinforcement boards 110 and 120 in which the inlet opening is
formed.

[0032] Although one tube member 130 is provided between the reinforcement
boards 110 and 120 in this embodiment, the present invention is not
limited thereto. Rather, a plurality of the tube members 130 can be
provided between the reinforcement boards 110 and 120. For example, two
tube members 130 can be arranged vertically at upper and lower positions
between the reinforcement boards 110 and 120, or three tube members 130
can be arranged in a triangular arrangement between the reinforcement
boards 110 and 120. In the case in which a plurality of the tube members
130 is provided as above, it is preferred that a partition or partitions
(not shown), which divide a space for containing one tube member 130 from
the remaining spaces, be provided between the reinforcement boards 110
and 120.

[0033] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the support frame 140 is configured to
substantially correspond to the outline of a pair of the reinforcement
boards 110 and 120. In this embodiment, a pair of the reinforcement
boards 110 and 120 has a streamlined structure, and thus the support
frame 140 is also configured such that it has a streamlined overall
structure. The support frame 140 functions to maintain the stability of
the overall structure of the gas-containing unit 100 while forming the
skeleton of the gas-containing unit 100. In particular, the support frame
140 stably supports the outer circumference of a pair of the
reinforcement boards 110 and 120 while a pair of the reinforcement boards
110 and 120 is being inflated along with the tube member 130, so that a
pair of the reinforcement boards 110 and 120 can be uniformly inflated
without being partially crushed.

[0034] In this embodiment, the support frame 140 is fabricated by bending
two pipes 141 and 142 (i.e. a long pipe and a short pipe) by applying a
certain amount of heat thereto, followed by coupling the pipes 141 and
142 to each other. That is, in this embodiment, the support frame 140
includes the two pipes 141 and 142 coupled to each other, each of which
has a curved portion. Each of the two pipes 141 and 142 is a pipe having
a circular cross section, which is made of engineering plastic. The
inside of the two pipes 141 and 142 is filled with pieces of Styrofoam
143 and 144, which form buoyant members. The pieces of Styrofoam 143 and
144 serve to increase the buoyancy of the gas-containing unit 100 as well
as to prevent water from permeating into the pipes.

[0035] The longer pipe (hereinafter, referred to as a "first pipe") of the
two pipes 141 and 142 has a curved portion 141a having a curvature the
same as that of the rear end of a pair of the reinforcement boards 110
and 120, and the short pipe (hereinafter, referred to as a "short pipe")
has a curved portion 142a having a curvature the same as that of the
front end of a pair of the reinforcement boards 110 and 120.

[0036] In addition, the support frame 140 also includes a coupling pipe
145 that couples the second pipe 142 to the first pipe 141. The coupling
pipe 145 is fitted into the second pipe 142, with both ends 142b and 145c
thereof protruding from both ends 142b and 142c of the second pipe 142.
The coupling pipe 145 has a shape that is substantially the same as that
of the second pipe 142, with the outer diameter thereof being slightly
smaller than the inner diameter of the second pipe 142 such that the
coupling pipe 145 can be fitted into the second pipe 142, and with the
length thereof being slightly longer than that of the second pipe 142
such that the both ends 145 and 145c of the coupling pipe 145 can
protrude from the both ends 142b and 142c of the second pipe 142. Then,
by fitting the both protruding ends 145b and 145c of the coupling pipe
145 into both ends 141b and 141c of the first pipe 141, the first and
second pipes 141 and 142 are coupled to each other. However, the coupling
between the first and second pipes 141 and 142 is not limited to the
above-described method of this embodiment, but can be realized using any
one of well-known methods.

[0037] As above, since the support frame 140 includes the long first pipe
141 and the short second pipe 142, which are coupled to each other, it is
possible to open the front end of a pair of the reinforcement boards 110
and 120 by decoupling the second pipe 142 from the first pipe 141, and
then replace the tube member 130, which is provided between the
reinforcement boards 110 and 120, with a new tube member. Accordingly,
when the tube member 130, which is provided between the reinforcement
boards 110 and 120, is broken and its replacement is required, it is
possible to replace the tube member 130 without disassembling the
gas-containing unit, thereby increasing convenience in replacement of the
tube member 130.

[0038] Unlike this embodiment, the support frame 140 can be fabricated
integrally by bending a single pipe, or be fabricated by bending three or
more pipes, followed by coupling the pipes to each other. In addition,
the pipes that constitute the support frame 140 can be made of a material
rather than the above-described plastic material. For example, the pipes
can be made of a general plastic material, or a metal material, such as
stainless steel (SUS). Furthermore, the support frame 140 is not limited
to being constructed of the pipes, but the support frame 140 can be
constructed of a solid bar or an angle having a C-shaped cross section.
However, according to a number of experiments, it is preferred that the
support frame 140 be constructed of a pipe having a circular cross
section in terms of bending processability, overall structural stability,
etc.

[0039] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the gas-containing unit 100 of this
embodiment includes a plurality of rivets 151 as fastening members, which
fasten a pair of the reinforcement boards 110 and 120 to the support
frame 140. That is, in this embodiment, a pair of the reinforcement
boards 110 and 120 is fastened to the support frame 140 by rivet
fastening. A plurality of rivets 151 are arranged along the outer
circumference of a pair of the reinforcement boards 110 and 120 at
predetermined intervals. The number of the rivets 151, which are used, is
suitably determined in consideration of the size of the gas-containing
unit 100 and the properties of the material of the reinforcement boards
110 and 120 and the support frame 140.

[0040] In the meantime, when it is required to replace the tube member 130
as described above, the rivets 151 are unfastened from the second pipe
142 in order to separate the second pipe 142, which constitutes the
support frame 140, from a pair of the reinforcement boards 110 and 120.
When the replacement of the tube member 130 is completed, the second pipe
142 is coupled again to a pair of the reinforcement boards 110 and 120
using the rivets 151. Here, since the coupling pipe 145, which is made of
a metal material such as aluminum, is fitted into the second pipe 142,
which is made of a plastic material, no problem occurs even if the
processing of unfastening the rivets 151 and refastening the rivets is
repeated several times. Thus, the coupling pipe 145 functions to couple
the first and second pipes 141 and 142 to each other as well as to
enhance endurance against repeated riveting.

[0041] Although a plurality of the rivets 151 is illustrated in this
embodiment as the fastening members for fastening a pair of the
reinforcement boards 110 and 120 to the support frame 140, the present
invention is not limited thereto. The method of fastening a pair of the
reinforcement boards 110 and 120 to the support frame 140 can be realized
using any one of a variety of methods, including bolt fastening. For
reference, the bolt fastening is advantageous in that disassembling is
easy, but bolts may be unfastened due to external impact or the like.
Therefore, the rivet fastening is more preferable in the aspect of
ensuring the overall structural strength of the gas-containing unit 100.

[0042] Furthermore, in the invention, it is possible to couple a pair of
the reinforcement boards 110 and 120 to the support frame 140 without
additional fastening members, such as the above-described rivets or
bolts. For example, in the case in which thermal fusion is applied, it is
preferred that both a pair of the reinforcement boards 110 and 120 and
the support frame 140 be made of a plastic material.

[0043]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the gas-containing unit 100 shown
in FIG. 1 in which gas is injected into the tube member 130, and FIG. 6
is a cross-sectional view of the gas-containing unit 100 taken along line
VI-VI in FIG. 5.

[0044] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, as gas is injected into the tube member
130, a pair of the reinforcement boards 110 and 120 is inflated along
with the tube member 130, thereby having a shape that bulges outwards.
That is, when gas is not injected into the tube member 130, a pair of the
reinforcement boards 110 and 120 is in the form a substantially flat
plank (see FIGS. 1 and 2). When the tube member 130 is inflated by
injection of gas, a pair of the reinforcement boards 110 and 120 is
pressed by the inflating tube member 130 so that it is transformed into a
shape that bulges outwards. Here, since a pair of the reinforcement
boards 110 and 120 is stably supported by the support frame 140, it can
be uniformly inflated along with the tube member 130 without being
partially crushed, thereby obtaining an intended shape, for example, a
smooth streamline shape. In addition, since the inner surface of a pair
of the reinforcement boards 110 and 120 is pressed by the tube member
130, its structural strength against external impact is further enhanced.

[0045] In this embodiment, a pair of the reinforcement boards 110 and 120
is configured such that it is in the form of a substantially flat plank
when gas is not injected into the tube member but is inflated along with
the tube member 130, thereby having a shape that bulges outwards, when
gas is injected into the tube member 130. Alternatively, a pair of the
reinforcement boards 110 and 120 is configured such that it has a shape
that bulges outwards even when gas if not injected into the tube member
130. In this case, each of the reinforcement boards 110 and 120 can be
manufactured by pressing a flat plank so that it has a curved shape that
bulges in one direction.

[0046] As described above, the gas-containing unit 100 of this embodiment
can prevent the tube member 130, which is made of a soft material, from
being damaged, for example, being scratched or torn by external impact as
well as exhibit improved overall structural strength, since the tube
member 130 is disposed between the reinforcement boards 110 and 120 such
that a pair of the reinforcement boards 110 and 120 protects the tube
member 130.

[0047] In addition, in the gas-containing unit 100 of this embodiment, a
pair of the reinforcement boards 110 and 120 can be uniformly inflated
without being partially crushed, since the support frame 140 stably
supports the outer circumference of a pair of the reinforcement boards
110 and 120 while a pair of the reinforcement boards 110 and 120 is being
inflated along with the tube member 130 as gas is being injected into the
tube member 130.

[0048] Furthermore, in the gas-containing unit 100 of this embodiment, it
is possible to improve the ease with which the gas-containing unit 100
can be carried and maintained, since a pair of the reinforcement boards
110 and 120 is in the form of a flat plank when gas is not injected into
the tube member 130.

[0049] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a boat that serves as a
water vehicle, which incorporates a gas-containing unit according to an
exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0050] Referring to FIG. 7, the boat 1 of this embodiment includes a pair
of the gas-containing units 100. The gas-containing units 100 are
disposed parallel to each other to maintain a predetermined interval in
the lateral direction. First and second structures 200 and 300 couple the
gas-containing units 100 to each other. A deck (not shown) is mounted on
the upper portion of the first and second structures 200 and 300 to
provide a boarding area. Here, a pair of the gas-containing unit 100 is
provided with first 4 binding members 211 to 214 to which ends of the
first structure 200 are fitted and bound and second 4 binding members 311
to 314 to which ends of the second structure 300 are fitted and bound.

[0051] The gas-containing unit of the invention can of course be applied
as a buoyant body not only to the above-described boat, but also to other
water vehicles (e.g. a raft). Furthermore, the gas-containing unit of the
invention can be applied to a water installation, such as a float or a
water tent, which is installed near the dock.

[0052] The present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments,
but various modifications and alterations will be apparent to a person
having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention. Therefore, it should be understood that all such
modifications and alterations fall within the scope of the claims of the
invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0053] The present invention is applicable to the technical field of a
water vehicle including a boat.